DM Hills has fun the smart way

Some call it “Family Fun Night” and others call it simply smart. Balls dropped, sticks tossed in the air and lassoes whirled as the children of Del Mar Hills and their parents laughed and actually got smarter.

The Oct. 8 program, organized by second grade teacher Erik Bienke, is based on a wide body of research that shows cross-lateral movements (both side-to-side and front-to-back) and balance activities improve brain performance.

The program, sponsored by the Hills PTA and presented by W.E. C.A.R.E. SPORTS of West Linn, Ore., demonstrates the connection between cognitive creativity, retention and retrieval skills, and physical behaviors that are fun. For example, students learn about the brain’s anatomy, size, structure and functions as they play with balance tubes, spider balls and learn to juggle.

There’s little doubt about what the families learned — that juggling is harder than it looks, and they’ll definitely reserve a spot on the calendar for this one again next year. For information, visit www.wecaresports.com.

— Elaine Delgadillo, Del Mar Hills Academy